Stoops Built Stingy Defensive Unit For #6 Seminoles

Thursday

Nov 22, 2012 at 11:54 PM

TALLAHASSEE | Mark Stoops already had an impressive resume before he coached a single game at Florida State. He had won a national title at Miami and turned an awful Arizona defense into a top-25 group.

By BOB FERRANTELEDGER CORRESPONDENT

TALLAHASSEE | Mark Stoops already had an impressive resume before he coached a single game at Florida State. He had won a national title at Miami and turned an awful Arizona defense into a top-25 group.

The Seminoles allowed 30 points a game in 2009. But in Stoops' three seasons, those numbers have dropped dramatically — 18 in 2010, 15 in 2011 and 13 this season.

Through the first nine games of the season, FSU leads the nation in yards allowed per game (236.2) and third-down efficiency, allowing opponents to convert just 43 of 172 opportunities (25 percent).

FSU has gone from 100th in the national rankings to No. 1. And all of this has been accomplished without an All-American defensive end (Brandon Jenkins) and a talented corner (Greg Reid).

There have been some rocky moments for the defense in 2012 — mainly the first half against Clemson, the second half at N.C. State and the big passing plays against Virginia Tech. But, as Stoops said this summer, no defense is perfect. The idea is to minimize the damage on the scoreboard, and his defense has done that.

"He's been diverse but I think he's still kept it simple enough that we're able to play," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "It's a very sound system. We keep great leverage on the ball. We have very good players. He's put them in good position and we're being very aggressive. … Mark's a heck of a football coach."

FSU hasn't just been stuffing the run, something Seminoles defenses have been doing for decades under Mickey Andrews and now Stoops. The 2012 defense has been exceptional against the run, ranking first in allowing just 70.6 yards per game, and is also fifth against the pass, giving up just 165.6 yards.

"I've been around coach Stoops so much, I know what he expects out of us," said FSU linebacker Vince Williams, a Ridge Community graduate. "When he makes call, I anticipate what he's thinking the offense is going to do."

His schemes are multiple but straightforward. He has put players in positions to succeed. He has plugged in Tank Carradine for Jenkins and Nick Waisome and Ronald Darby for Reid.

"His approach is simple and clear," said former FSU graduate assistant Terrell Buckley, who watched Stoops teach first-hand and is now in his first season as Akron's defensive backs coach. "The way he articulates it with ease. It's a clear picture of what he wants. And you see the results. I think he's done a phenomenal job."

Stoops, who is not allowed to talk to reporters with the exception of media day in August, has clearly adapted well to various offensive attacks. While the Atlantic Coast Conference has been hammered as being a poor football conference, it is one that has experienced quarterbacks – and there have been plenty of high scoring football games.

After N.C. State dinked its way down the field against FSU in the second half of their Oct. 6 game, mostly on short routes over the middle, Stoops decided to counter with the "six pack."

FSU's use of six defensive backs held pass-happy teams like Boston College and Duke to seven points apiece. Miami was aided by turnovers courtesy of FSU's offense early and added a garbage touchdown late. And while Logan Thomas passed for 298 yards, half that total came on four passes and he was intercepted twice. Again, not perfect. But the six pack has worked.

"That's what makes Stoops a great coach," Buckley said. "You look at something and evaluate it. That to me is a mark of a great leader and a great coach."

When Stoops arrived, the feeling was that he would be a head coach in a few seasons. He's been in Tallahassee three years, and nobody is going to help him pack his bags.

But the reality is that schools have come calling in the past few years. Stoops is clearly waiting for not just a head coaching job but the right offer. Each year there are at least 20 openings in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and there could be four in the Southeastern Conference alone (Kentucky and Tennessee are open, and Auburn and Arkansas could be at season's end).

Many presidents and chancellors like to choose a coach with head coaching experience – for good reason. Picking an assistant coach with only coordinating experience can be hit-and-miss.

Then there is a candidate like Stoops, who has been successful at Wyoming, Miami, Arizona and Florida State.

"I hope he stays here forever, but I also want him to reach his dreams and goals of being a head football coach, if that's what he wants to do, if there's an opportunity out there," Fisher said. "He's earned that right. Somebody is going to come calling and he'll think it's the right thing. I think he'll do a great job."